Radiators

ABSTRACT

A modular radiator panel includes a coolant tube, a saddle surrounding a first portion of the coolant tube and a radiative sheet mounted to the saddle. The radiative sheet surrounds a second portion of the coolant tube, such that the coolant tube is sandwiched between the radiative sheet and the saddle. A radiator includes a plurality of coolant tubes and saddles. Each saddle surrounds a first portion of a respective one of the coolant tubes. The radiator includes a plurality of radiative sheets. Each radiative sheet is mounted to a respective one of the saddles. Each radiative sheet surrounds a second portion of a respective one of the coolant tubes, similar to the radiative sheet described above.

GOVERNMENT LICENSE RIGHTS STATEMENT

This invention was made with government support under Prime Contract No. NNN06AA01C, Sub-Contract No. 970634, awarded by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. The government has certain rights in the invention.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present disclosure relates to thermal management systems, and more particularly to radiators for use in spacecraft.

2. Description of Related Art

Space vehicles commonly employ thermal management systems to control the temperature of vehicle components, such as the space vehicle's solar cells. Such thermal management systems typically use a pumped coolant loop to remove heat from the solar cells and transport that heat to the spacecraft radiators to radiate that heat to space. Such systems generally must meet cooling requirements across a variety of operating temperatures, and must comply with weight requirements.

Such conventional methods and systems have generally been considered satisfactory for their intended purposes. However, there is still a need in the art for improved thermal management systems. This disclosure provides a solution for this need.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A modular radiator panel includes a coolant tube, a saddle surrounding a first portion of the coolant tube and a radiative sheet mounted to the saddle. The radiative sheet surrounds a second portion of the coolant tube, such that the coolant tube is sandwiched between the radiative sheet and the saddle.

The radiative sheet can be substantially planar. The modular radiator panel can include an epoxy layer surrounding the coolant tube between the saddle and the radiative sheet. The modular radiator panel can include a micrometeroid and orbital debris (MMOD) protection sheet. The MMOD protection sheet can be mounted to a side of the radiative sheet opposite that of the coolant tube and the saddle with an epoxy having a thermal conductivity of 0.331 W/(m·K). The coolant tube can be mounted to the saddle with an epoxy having a thermal conductivity of 0.331 W/(m·K), and the saddle can be mounted to the radiative sheet with an epoxy having a thermal conductivity of 0.331 W/(m·K). The modular radiator panel can include a bracket mounted to a side of the saddle opposite that of the coolant tube and the radiative sheet. The bracket can include a saddle portion offset from the saddle.

A radiator includes a plurality of coolant tubes and saddles. Each saddle surrounds a first portion of a respective one of the coolant tubes. The radiator includes a plurality of radiative sheets. Each radiative sheet is mounted to a respective one of the saddles. Each radiative sheet surrounds a second portion of a respective one of the coolant tubes, similar to the radiative sheet described above.

It is contemplated that the radiative sheets, saddles and coolant tubes can be similar to those described above. The radiator can include a plurality of MMOD protection sheets mounted to a side of a respective one of the radiative sheets opposite that of the coolant tube and the saddle. The MMOD protection sheets are similar to the MMOD protection sheet described above. The radiator can include a bracket mounted to sides of each of the saddles opposite that of the coolant tubes and the radiative sheets, similar to the bracket described above.

These and other features of the systems and methods of the subject disclosure will become more readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments taken in conjunction with the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

So that those skilled in the art to which the subject disclosure appertains will readily understand how to make and use the devices and methods of the subject disclosure without undue experimentation, preferred embodiments thereof will be described in detail herein below with reference to certain figures, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the inner side of an exemplary embodiment of a radiator constructed in accordance with the embodiments of the present disclosure, showing the modular radiator panels; and

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of one of the modular radiator panels of the assembly of FIG. 1, showing construction of the coolant tube, saddle and radiative sheet.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Reference will now be made to the drawings wherein like reference numerals identify similar structural features or aspects of the subject disclosure. For purposes of explanation and illustration, and not limitation, a partial view of an exemplary embodiment of a radiator assembly in accordance with the disclosure is shown in FIG. 1 and is designated generally by reference character 100. Other embodiments of a heat radiator in accordance with the disclosure, or aspects thereof, are provided in FIG. 2, as will be described. The systems and methods described herein can be used in thermal management systems, such as heat rejection systems for space vehicles.

As shown in FIG. 1, radiator 100 includes a plurality of modular radiator panels 101, each modular radiator panel 101 includes a respective coolant tube 102 and saddle 104. Radiator 100 includes a plurality of radiative sheets 108 mounted to respective coolant tubes 102 and saddles 104. This radiator 100 can be used as an exterior wall or panel of a spacecraft, for providing thermal management to the spacecraft and its components. Those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that coolant tubes 102 can be constructed from a variety of suitable materials, for example, titanium, and that radiative sheets 108 and saddles 104 can be constructed from a variety of suitable materials, for example, aluminum. Those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that aluminum radiative sheets and saddles, and titanium coolant tubes provide for lightweight radiators. Radiator 100 includes a bracket 116 mounted to sides of saddles 104 opposite that of coolant tubes 102 and radiative sheets 108. Bracket 116 is the primary structural support for joining modular radiator panels 101 together. The modular design of the tubes 102, saddles 104 and radiative sheets 108, as opposed to a one piece design, allows for reduced assembly times due to ease of thermal acceptance testing on a single module, instead of the whole assembly. Those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that being able to test the modules individually allows for the individual modules to be modified or, in some cases, scrapped, prior to assembly, saving time and materials.

With reference now to FIG. 2, a single modular radiator panel 101 is shown. Modular radiator panel 101 includes an MMOD protection sheet 114 mounted to a respective radiative sheet 108. Saddle 104 includes a u-bend portion 105 that partially surrounds tube 104 by surrounding a first portion 106 of coolant tube 102. U-bend portion 105 is formed using sheet metal and/or a machining operation. Radiative sheet 108 is mounted to saddle 104 and surrounds a second portion 110 of coolant tube 102. Radiative sheet 108 is substantially planar. This tends to minimize the MMOD exposure and simplifies manufacture and assembly.

Coolant tube 102 is sandwiched between saddle 104 and radiative sheet 108. An epoxy layer 112 surrounds coolant tube 102 between saddle 104 and radiative sheet 108. Epoxy layer 112 acts to mount coolant tube 102, saddle 104, and radiative sheet 108 together. In addition, epoxy layer 112 facilitates heat transfer between coolant tube 102 and saddle 104 and/or radiative sheet 108. The sandwiched configuration allows for maximum heat transfer between coolant tube 102 and radiative sheet 108. For example, heat can be transferred from coolant tube 102 through epoxy layer 112 to radiative sheet 108, and/or can be transferred from coolant tube 102 through epoxy layer 112 to saddle 104, and then to radiative sheet 108.

Those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the material for epoxy layer 112 is selected based on its strength properties and heat transfer properties over a certain operating temperature range, for example −150 ° C. to +150 ° C., and can vary as needed for a given application. For example, it is contemplated that epoxy layer 112 can withstand an equivalent of approximately 40 G's quasi-static vibration without cracking, and/or without compromising the thermal conductivity between radiative sheet 108, coolant tube 102 and saddle 104. Epoxy layer 112 can include any of a variety of different epoxies, but generally has thermal conductivity between 0.25 and 3, for example, a thermal conductivity of 0.331 W/(m·K) at 10.0 KHz.

With continued reference to FIG. 2, MMOD protection sheet 114 is mounted to a side of radiative sheet 108 opposite that of coolant tube 102 and saddle 104 with epoxy layer 118, similar to epoxy layer 112, described above. Bracket 116 includes a saddle portion 120 offset from saddle 104. It is contemplated that saddle 104 can be bolted or riveted to bracket 116.

Those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that radiator 100 can operate in temperatures ranging from −150 ° C. to +150 ° C. In addition, radiator 100 can be less than 12 pounds and provide over 1 square meter of heat rejection surface. Radiator 100 is configured to be operational after exposed to launch random vibration, for example an equivalent of approximately 40 G's quasi-static vibration. Those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the combination of the stiffness across radiative sheet 108, saddle 104 and epoxy layer 112 and the attachment to bracket 116 allow for this vibration resistivity.

The methods and systems of the present disclosure, as described above and shown in the drawings, provide for radiators with superior properties including increased thermal conductivity, increased strength and reduced weight. While the apparatus and methods of the subject disclosure have been shown and described with reference to preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that changes and/or modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the subject disclosure. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A modular radiator panel, comprising: a coolant tube; a saddle surrounding a first portion of the coolant tube; and a radiative sheet mounted to the saddle, wherein the radiative sheet surrounds a second portion of the coolant tube, such that the coolant tube is sandwiched between the radiative sheet and the saddle.
 2. A modular radiator panel as recited in claim 1, wherein the radiative sheet is substantially planar.
 3. A modular radiator panel as recited in claim 1, further comprising an epoxy layer surrounding the coolant tube between the saddle and the radiative sheet.
 4. A modular radiator panel as recited in claim 1, further comprising a micrometeroid and orbital debris (MMOD) protection sheet, wherein the MMOD protection sheet is mounted to a side of the radiative sheet opposite that of the coolant tube and the saddle.
 5. A modular radiator panel as recited in claim 4, wherein the MMOD protection sheet is mounted to the radiative sheet with an epoxy having a thermal conductivity of 0.331 W/(m·K).
 6. A modular radiator panel as recited in claim 1, wherein the coolant tube is mounted to the saddle with an epoxy having a thermal conductivity of 0.331 W/(m·K).
 7. A modular radiator panel as recited in claim 1, wherein the saddle is mounted to the radiative sheet with an epoxy having a thermal conductivity of 0.331 W/(m·K).
 8. A modular radiator panel as recited in claim 1, further comprising a bracket mounted to a side of the saddle opposite that of the coolant tube and the radiative sheet.
 9. A modular radiator panel as recited in claim 8, wherein the bracket includes a saddle portion offset from the saddle.
 10. A radiator, comprising: a plurality of coolant tubes; a plurality of saddles, wherein each saddle surrounds a first portion of a respective one of the coolant tubes; and a plurality of radiative sheets, wherein each radiative sheet is mounted to a respective one of the saddles, wherein each radiative sheet surrounds a second portion of a respective one of the coolant tubes, such that each coolant tube is sandwiched between one of the respective saddles and one of the respective radiative sheets.
 11. A radiator as recited in claim 10, wherein each of the radiative sheets is substantially planar.
 12. A radiator as recited in claim 10, further comprising a plurality of micrometeroid and orbital debris (MMOD) protection sheets, wherein each MMOD protection sheet is mounted to a side of a respective one of the radiative sheets opposite that of the coolant tube and the saddle.
 13. A radiator as recited in claim 12, wherein the MMOD protection sheet is mounted to the radiative sheet with an epoxy having a thermal conductivity of 0.331 W/(m·K).
 14. A radiator as recited in claim 10, further comprising a bracket mounted to sides of each of the saddles opposite that of the coolant tubes and the radiative sheets.
 15. A radiator as recited in claim 14, wherein the bracket includes a plurality of saddle portions, wherein each saddle portion is offset from a respective one of the saddles. 